{"title":"Belcarra permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca"},"short_answer":"In Belcarra a building permit is needed for most decks, garages and carports. Only an accessory building under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings is exempt, if it meets zoning setbacks.","aliases":["shed permit belcarra","deck permit belcarra","garage permit belcarra","carport permit belcarra"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer. Permit fees start at $102.","how_long":"The bylaw does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8","note":"Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"604-937-4100"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"belcarra@belcarra.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Permit Application Package (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf"},{"title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Belcarra building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Belcarra building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Belcarra fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Belcarra zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"An accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings is outside the Building Bylaw if it meets zoning lot line setbacks, so a permit is needed for larger ones.","short":"No if under 10 m² on a simple-buildings parcel","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 14(2)","quotes":["an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 76(1)","quotes":["before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"No height threshold is stated. A permit is needed before constructing, repairing or altering any building or structure (s. 76). Outside the bylaw: accessory buildings under 10 m², trellises, arbours and retaining structures under 1.22 m that meet setbacks; replacing deck membranes.","short":"Yes; no height threshold stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"ss. 76(1), 14(2), 14(6)","quotes":["before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure","an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"Yes, in general. A building permit is needed before constructing a building or structure (s. 76). The only exempt accessory building is one under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings that meets lot line setbacks (s. 14(2)).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"ss. 76(1), 14(2)","quotes":["before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure","an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"RS-1 zone: accessory buildings together up to 150 m² floor area and 92.9 m² footprint; not nearer the front lot line than the house, except garages and coach houses up to 4 m high (not within 3 m of it). Rear and interior side setbacks 1.5 m, exterior side 3 m. Site coverage 40%.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 302.4(d), 302.6, 302.7","quotes":["The maximum Gross Floor Area of all Accessory Buildings on a parcel shall not exceed 150 square metres (1,615 square feet) and the maximum building footprint of all Accessory Buildings on a parcel shall not exceed 92.9 square metres (1,000 square feet)","No Accessory Building shall be located nearer to the Front Lot Line than the front wall of the Principal Building, except Garages and Accessory Coach Houses with a maximum height not greater than 4 metres (13 feet) above Average Natural Grade","See(b) 1.5 m 3m 1.5 m 3m","302.6 Site Coverage a) Maximum 40%"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003; Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"title page","quotes":["BUILDING AND PLUMBING CODE REGULATION BYLAW No. 355, 2003"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 101","quotes":["Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nBelcarra's [Building Bylaw No. 355](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf) requires a permit before constructing, repairing or altering any building or structure (s. 76). The bylaw does not mention sheds, decks, garages or carports by name.\n\n- **Shed or other accessory building:** an accessory building under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings is outside the bylaw if it meets zoning lot line setbacks. Larger ones need a permit.\n- **Deck:** no height or size threshold is stated. Replacing deck membranes is exempt. A trellis, an arbour or a retaining structure under 1.22 m that meets setbacks is also exempt.\n- **Garage or carport:** a permit is needed in general. The only exempt accessory building is one under 10 m².\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In the RS-1 zone, [Zoning Bylaw No. 510](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf) allows accessory buildings up to 150 m² of floor area together and 92.9 m² of footprint, with site coverage of 40%.\n- Accessory buildings may not be nearer the front lot line than the house, except garages and coach houses up to 4 m high, which may not be within 3 m of it. Rear and interior side setbacks are 1.5 m; exterior side 3 m.\n- No building may be within 7.5 m of the sea or a watercourse.\n- The RM-1, RM-2 and RM-3 zones have their own tables. Ask the Building Department, 604-937-4100, which applies to you.","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf","title":"Building Permit Application Package 2024 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}